Review - The Scarlet Clue, released 5-11-45
A good story plays well right through for our mystery movie with Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan. This time number three son, Tommy Chan and Birmingham Brown, appear, to help the detective solve the crimes. Worth a watch, due to plenty of characters and unique murders; clues gradually open the case toward the end, as Charlie Chan solves this one, with the help from a few police officials.
The suspect list is plentiful, until some are mysteriously killed. The police chemist, the police technician and a voice impersonator are made a part of the investigation. Certain precautions are taken by Chan, which are revealed when the killer is found near the movie-end. There was no risk to the documents being stolen, for Charlie had them put in a safer place early on and the daffy office cleaning lady was really a government operative, requested by Chan, watching the traffic through the experimental radar laboratory. It was Chan's intention to catch the suspected killer alive, but an error in judgement brought the killer to a fatal end. She was killed in the same manner as an earlier suspect, i.e. a fall down an elevator shaft from the seventh floor through a trap door.
Charlie's mission is made clear early on in the plot when he meets his friend, police Captain Flynn, who has overindulged his efforts tracking a known espionage suspect. He is scolded by Chan, for Charlie simply wanted the man to be located, in order for the police to determine all the players, i.e. catching the ring leader stealing the radar secrets. The police make their presence known to the suspect, who manages to get himself killed by another conspirator, unbeknownst to Charlie Chan. A car seen leaving the first murder scene provides a clue, as does a right-shoe print, left from stepping in the victim's blood; i.e. the scarlet clue is the print found at the scene and later found at another location. The car belonged to an actress, reporting it stolen, only to have it returned the same evening, coincidentally, around the same time as the murder. Following the vehicle clue to its owner brings Charlie to a radio station in the same building as the radar laboratory. After discussing her vehicle reported stolen, now returned, Charlie steps out of the radio studio, only to notice another right-shoe print matching that left at the murder scene. Charlie observes the killer is someone who walked here recently, perhaps someone we have all seen. Chan adds, a most interesting place, will visit here again tomorrow. They will return to the studio building many times during the movie, in order to find the killer and the ring-leader. Charlie gathers information, piecing together available evidence after two members of the radio entertainers are killed under similar circumstances. He eventually tracks the perpetrator to the studio's building, after receiving assistance from the police forensics team. The movie is complete with mystery, unusual crime methods, and a surprise ending with the capture of the espionage ring-leader. Watch the movie from the beginning, not missing any clues, you won't be disappointed. I recommend this Charlie Chan movie nearing the end of Sidney Toler's career and life.
The suspect list is plentiful, until some are mysteriously killed. The police chemist, the police technician and a voice impersonator are made a part of the investigation. Certain precautions are taken by Chan, which are revealed when the killer is found near the movie-end. There was no risk to the documents being stolen, for Charlie had them put in a safer place early on and the daffy office cleaning lady was really a government operative, requested by Chan, watching the traffic through the experimental radar laboratory. It was Chan's intention to catch the suspected killer alive, but an error in judgement brought the killer to a fatal end. She was killed in the same manner as an earlier suspect, i.e. a fall down an elevator shaft from the seventh floor through a trap door.
Charlie's mission is made clear early on in the plot when he meets his friend, police Captain Flynn, who has overindulged his efforts tracking a known espionage suspect. He is scolded by Chan, for Charlie simply wanted the man to be located, in order for the police to determine all the players, i.e. catching the ring leader stealing the radar secrets. The police make their presence known to the suspect, who manages to get himself killed by another conspirator, unbeknownst to Charlie Chan. A car seen leaving the first murder scene provides a clue, as does a right-shoe print, left from stepping in the victim's blood; i.e. the scarlet clue is the print found at the scene and later found at another location. The car belonged to an actress, reporting it stolen, only to have it returned the same evening, coincidentally, around the same time as the murder. Following the vehicle clue to its owner brings Charlie to a radio station in the same building as the radar laboratory. After discussing her vehicle reported stolen, now returned, Charlie steps out of the radio studio, only to notice another right-shoe print matching that left at the murder scene. Charlie observes the killer is someone who walked here recently, perhaps someone we have all seen. Chan adds, a most interesting place, will visit here again tomorrow. They will return to the studio building many times during the movie, in order to find the killer and the ring-leader. Charlie gathers information, piecing together available evidence after two members of the radio entertainers are killed under similar circumstances. He eventually tracks the perpetrator to the studio's building, after receiving assistance from the police forensics team. The movie is complete with mystery, unusual crime methods, and a surprise ending with the capture of the espionage ring-leader. Watch the movie from the beginning, not missing any clues, you won't be disappointed. I recommend this Charlie Chan movie nearing the end of Sidney Toler's career and life.